Sports Business – Sports Networkerhttp://www.sportsnetworker.com
SportsNetworker.com is the #1 Resource Online For Sports Business Professional Looking To Take Their Sports Career To The Next LevelFri, 07 Oct 2016 13:02:43 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1What’s Fueling Economic Growth In Sports Business?http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2016/05/24/whats-fueling-economic-growth-in-sports-business/
http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2016/05/24/whats-fueling-economic-growth-in-sports-business/#commentsTue, 24 May 2016 13:00:58 +0000http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=19732America is a uniquely sports-enthused nation. The entire industry — participation, television viewing, and sports attendance — has an estimated worth in the range of $70 billion per year. About 40 million people in the US will play at least one game of softball each year; far more will take aim at a basketball rim....

]]>America is a uniquely sports-enthused nation. The entire industry — participation, television viewing, and sports attendance — has an estimated worth in the range of $70 billion per year. About 40 million people in the US will play at least one game of softball each year; far more will take aim at a basketball rim.

What has driven this immense popularity; and what implications does it carry for various companies in the world of sports? Partly, it’s the durability of sports; no matter how bad the economy gets, you can still gather a few friends and go play a game somewhere. It’s also the ability of sports to unify, inspire, and entertain people of every type.

But the overarching power of economic growth in sports is derived from a few key areas.

Improved Equipment And The Economic Growth Of Companies

The days of young boys yearning for the glove in a dime-store window are gone. The increasing size of sports equipment companies has had a huge impact on the overall market. Larger selections and more competitive pricing have allowed Anthem Sports and other retailers to secure a larger portion of the $615 million baseball equipment market.

But quality hasn’t evaporated. In fact, it has grown, and that’s the only way that so many firms could achieve such size. These firms are more profitable because of a greater differentiation of quality. The dime-store glove had far fewer seasons of play built into it than modern models. With youth, and players in particular taking on a nearly year-round schedule of play, durability has become a watchword.

When athletes are interested in investing into a quality piece of equipment; whatever the sport and whatever the position played; that’s when companies are willing to push ahead with product development, company mergers, and player endorsements.

What’s The Role Of Endorsements?

Consumers sometimes dismiss celebrity endorsements as a valueless product attribute. They feel that most athletes sign these deals strictly for money and with no consideration of the product’s performance.

While it’s impossible to make blanket statements about athlete endorsements, it does stand to reason that endorsements of products such as pain relievers or sodas would boost sales more through celebrity brand recognition than product credibility. On the other hand, endorsements of sports equipment by the athletes who actually use it do carry the implication that the product enhances their success. This is because we typically would not expect athletes to use an inferior product and sacrifice performance just to maintain an endorsement deal.

A good example is golfer Tiger Woods, whose use of Nike golf balls was shown to have enhanced sales of the product. Woods’ many years of success while using Nike’s golf balls are a powerful endorsement.

The Broader Base Of Sports Employment

Weekly viewership for ESPN in one week of September 2015 topped 4.3 million — more than any other cable network. Other sports networks also carry sports 24/7. Recruiting services, sports statistic services, and an endless parade of blogs with countless contributors further deepen the pool of employment for sports. And workers who represent another branch of the sports economy manufacture all of the bats, gloves, and catcher’s masks that make up the $615 million baseball equipment industry.

With such incredible payrolls in terms of personnel and dollars, the field is very attractive to people in search of jobs. Current and former athletes, or simply longtime fans, think of a job in sports as a dream come true. Now that the sports economy will actually support those jobs, the dreams are real.

As sports consuming such a huge amount of disposable income, it’s clear that the American consumer will always spend enthusiastically in this area. For that reason, economic growth in sports will continue at an impressive rate.

Sports NetworkerRead more http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2016/05/24/whats-fueling-economic-growth-in-sports-business/]]>http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2016/05/24/whats-fueling-economic-growth-in-sports-business/feed/2Pricey Homes of Famous NFL Playershttp://www.sportsnetworker.com/2016/05/16/pricey-homes-famous-nfl-players/
http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2016/05/16/pricey-homes-famous-nfl-players/#respondMon, 16 May 2016 18:00:33 +0000http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=19717The Barclay’s Premier League, also known as England’s top-flight soccer league, features some of the wealthiest athletes anywhere in the world. According to the most recent annual list of Britain’s wealthiest footballers as released by goal.com, the top of the list is made up of Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Ryan Giggs, and Steven Gerrard. Their...

]]>The Barclay’s Premier League, also known as England’s top-flight soccer league, features some of the wealthiest athletes anywhere in the world. According to the most recent annual list of Britain’s wealthiest footballers as released by goal.com, the top of the list is made up of Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Ryan Giggs, and Steven Gerrard. Their talents help them pile up wealth in excess of £30 million each.

They also have spectacular homes around the country to stash their wealth in. Wayne Rooney’s mega-estate in Cheshire is worth £11 million. Ryan Giggs’ mansion is worth £2 million. Steven Gerard has something far bigger — an £18 million mansion in Beverly Hills, California.

The NFL’s Most Luxurious Homes

Speaking of California, how does life treat America’s finest footballers? What kind of digs do they go for to show off their $100 million-dollar net worth? If you would like to compare, here goes.

Tom Brady’s $40 million palace

In 2014, Tom Brady and supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen decided that their $20 million mansion simply didn’t do justice to their wealth and success. Which is why they sold it to Dr. Dre, and moved on — to Boston. With a net worth of $120 million, Brady decided the family needed something worth at least $40 million.

Built to rub shoulders with Boston’s exclusive Brookline Country Club, the 5-acre estate is custom-designed. The home itself has a Baja shelf pool, five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a wine cellar, a yoga studio and a motor court (which is an elevated terrace just for the cars).

Interestingly, when this exclusive couple applied to the country club next door, they were turned down. Brookline values its privacy, and having a superstar walk around their grounds would bring in paparazzi.

Tony Romo’s $9 million mansion

The Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback owns one of the greatest mansions of any top NFL player. Sitting on 32,000 square-feet of beautiful grounds, the home has a swimming pool, spa, six vast bedrooms and lawns that stretch on forever. With its Dallas location, there may not be much use for fireplaces. Nevertheless, the home does have three.

Russell Wilson’s $7 million home

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has a home right on Lake Washington. Living with his hip-hop singer fiancé Ciara, he’s turned his home into a great romantic pad with its own little harbor on the lake. When they decide to come indoors, there are seven bedrooms and bathrooms. With Lake Washington practically out there to call their own, though, why would they come inside?

Brandon Marshall’s $5 million home

The New York Jets wide receiver has is one of the fanciest mansions in the game. Occupying 2.5 acres in a Florida gated community, the vast estate includes space for horses, a game room, a large movie theater and even a professional basketball court.

Marshawn Lynch’s $4 million home

Built on the waterfront in Richmond, California to overlook San Francisco Bay, the 7,000 square-foot home with five bedrooms and bathrooms has its own little harbor with a luxury boat moored. The family gets to take it out anytime they want. The home is built on stilts over the water, which should make for some interesting sound effects when the weather turns rough.

You’re probably curious about Peyton Manning

With career earnings touching $240 million, Manning is the number one NFL football player by wealth. Yet, his home is worth less than a tenth of what Tom Brady has put together. Built in Colorado, the estate of the former Broncos captain is right outside Denver in Cherry Hills Village. Taking up 3.4 acres, it features a 16,000 square-foot home with seven bedrooms, ten baths and a seven-car garage. The recently retired superstar even has a panic room and a vast, homegrown Christmas tree on the manicured lawns.

Of course, there are plenty of over-the-top celeb footballer homes all over the country. The greatest are owned by former NFL superstars. Joe Montana’s mansion is worth $35 million, and Jerry Richardson, who is worth $1 billion, has mansions all over the world.

The International Presence of Huge Estates

When it comes to high-profile homes, Britain attracts wealthy buyers from all over the world. It isn’t so much the luxury that’s available; anyone could build a luxury home anywhere in the world. It’s about Britain’s inimitable pastoral landscapes.

Wherever in the country you would love to live, whatever aristocratic home you might have your eye on, you can probably find it right here at from Alan de Maid or other accomplished listing services. You won’t have to look very far before you find something truly special.

Sports NetworkerRead more http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2016/05/16/pricey-homes-famous-nfl-players/]]>http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2016/05/16/pricey-homes-famous-nfl-players/feed/0Athlete Branding – Develop a Memorable and Powerful Brandhttp://www.sportsnetworker.com/2016/05/12/athlete-branding-develop-a-memorable-and-powerful-brand/
http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2016/05/12/athlete-branding-develop-a-memorable-and-powerful-brand/#respondThu, 12 May 2016 21:43:30 +0000http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=19703In the world of sports, it can be very challenging for an aspiring professional athlete, or even a well-seasoned one, to stand out from the crowd and have the opportunity to luxuriate from their success. As the movie Jerry McGuire successfully illustrates, the sports industry is cutthroat and remarkably competitive. Successful athletes are a dime...

]]>In the world of sports, it can be very challenging for an aspiring professional athlete, or even a well-seasoned one, to stand out from the crowd and have the opportunity to luxuriate from their success. As the movie Jerry McGuire successfully illustrates, the sports industry is cutthroat and remarkably competitive. Successful athletes are a dime a dozen – even amongst ones who have had an accomplished professional career.

However, there is a simple formula for success that every athlete who aspires to become more marketable should follow.

In order to become more successful in athlete branding, so that businesses and organizations that are willing to invest, the athlete must first develop a strong profile in a niche market. While it may sound complicated, it’s anything but. This concept basically implies that an athlete becomes an authority — a well-known and/or respected figure in a specific niche market.

Once the athlete starts to develop a strong profile in a niche market, they must then capitalize on their success by developing a powerful personal brand. This is the time that the athlete should be creative, as originality will make them more memorable. Unfortunately, many athletes think the same way and choose the safe route when it comes to personal athlete branding as if they’re afraid of alienating themselves from prospective partners.

While there is always the chance of this happening, an athlete is more likely to constrain their opportunities by not exuding their individualism and personality. Often times, the most original athletes are also the most memorable. This can include athletes that display a more colorful, controversial, eccentric, inspirational, and/or unconventional personality. Athletes such as Dennis Rodman, Mike Tyson, Evel Knievel, and Nicole Gibbs are perfect examples of how distinctive traits of their character were utilized to create a bona fide brand.

Social media and athlete branding

Once a strong personal brand is established, an athlete can then build and expand their brand through several different verticals. One of the easiest and most useful methods to generate brand awareness is to leverage social media. With so many of social media outlets now available, an athlete’s overall reach is nearly unlimited. The athlete can target specific audiences – whether it’s their fans, supporters, or business opportunities.

The best way to capitalize off of social media is to have professional and streamlined channels that present the athlete in an utmost positive fashion. These social media outlets should include high-quality images from competition, training, personal life, and commercial engagements. The athlete should engage with their audience on a daily basis by posting updates, responding to comments, and providing fresh content.

The material posted should be relevant to the athlete’s brand and future goals. One of the greatest tools for an athlete to drastically grow their social media following is to constantly provide inspirational and original content. An athlete should always remember that their followers look up to them in one way or another. Many of the followers are living vicariously through the athlete, so the athlete should continuously post content that is stimulating.

A great example is tennis star Nicole Gibbs. Also known as Gibbsy, Gibbs is a two-time NCAA singles champion and graduate of Stanford University after only three years. She has stacked up prestigious international sponsors, such as New Balance, from her fiery passion on the court and her spunky personality off. Social media has helped launch her brand as she frequently tweets and posts insightful pictures.

Examples of rebuilding a tarnished brand

In addition to creating a successful brand, athlete branding can also be used to rebuild an image. There are few examples of rebuilding a tarnished brand like Michael Vick. At one time, Michael Vick was one of the most famous athletes on the planet. Since his release from prison in 2009, he has leveraged social media to help shape the public’s perception of him and, ultimately, get back into the NFL. Vick has been able to reconnect with fans and share his good deeds through social media – which has helped him turn his life around and open the door to a fresh start.

Another example would be Charlie Engle — one of the most accomplished ultrarunners in the world — who was a crack addict and saved himself through ultrarunning and becoming an adventure film star. Engle was convicted of mortgage fraud and sent to prison in 2010. However, he continued to leverage a very inspirational brand across the adventure and endurance sports industry. Since his release, Engle continues to inspire his passionate followers and has completely rebuilt his life on the world’s stage.

Become Something Bigger than the Brand

When an athlete can deliver something that’s unique to engage people, and make them want to be part of something bigger than themselves, the athlete will be in position to use their brand rather than their branding to crush their competition.

The purpose of becoming something bigger than the brand is to become distinctly memorable. Every athlete who successfully develops and maintains a strong brand has at least one career highlight that was something bigger than themselves. This specific career highlight is usually something that is extraordinary, extreme, and/or inspirational. It’s a remarkably impressive feat that vastly sets the athlete apart from the rest, and is a conversation starter between fans.

Some examples of athletes that became something bigger than their brand would include how Michael Phelps dominated the 2008 competition in Beijing and set himself apart from other Olympic greats. In 2006, acclaimed ultrarunner Dean Karnazes ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. This incredible accomplishment propelled his prolific career as an athlete, author, and motivational speaker.

Former NFL player, Pat Tillman, courageously left his lucrative professional career with the Arizona Cardinals and enlisted in the United States Army less than a year after the September 11 attacks. He was later killed in action, but his sacrifice and selflessness would inspire many. The Tillman Foundation was formed, which invests in military veterans and their spouses through educational scholarships.

Killan Jornet has quite an adventure coming up.

A more recent example would be how Spanish adventurer, Kilian Jornet, launched the Summits of My Life project. The project will take four years, during which he’ll travel to the greatest mountain ranges in the world, attempting to climb some of the most breathtaking peaks and come back down again as fast as he can. Jornet’s adventure film documentary, Summits of My Life, has also paid homage to the people of Nepal following the tragic earthquake that occurred on April 25, 2015.

The Importance of Maintaining A Strong Brand

Once an athlete builds a strong brand that garners the attention of businesses and organizations willing to invest in them, the pressure to maintain those partnerships increases astronomically. Once partnerships and contractual agreements are in place, an athlete will constantly have to maintain certain standards or risk losing those opportunities.

This is why it is especially important for an athlete to constantly reinvent themselves and to not develop an insular mindset. An athlete that becomes static will quickly fade away. However, an athlete that is always looking for new and exciting opportunities to engage their fans and supporters will continue to be memorable and in demand.

A successful branding campaign is absolutely crucial for an athlete to maximize opportunities stemming from their accomplishments and background. However, the approach to athlete branding should be taken with an open mind. Be original and have fun – and the world will be yours.

Sports NetworkerRead more http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2016/05/12/athlete-branding-develop-a-memorable-and-powerful-brand/]]>http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2016/05/12/athlete-branding-develop-a-memorable-and-powerful-brand/feed/05 Ways an Agent Can Guide an Athlete to the Right Endorsementhttp://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/12/17/5-ways-agent-can-guide-athlete-right-endorsement/
http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/12/17/5-ways-agent-can-guide-athlete-right-endorsement/#commentsThu, 17 Dec 2015 22:05:40 +0000http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=19447It’s no surprise that athletes can make a killing off of endorsements. Making money for the athlete you represent — and therefore for yourself — is one of the primary concerns of a good sports agent. However, it definitely shouldn’t be all a sports agent is interested in. Not all endorsements are created equal. How...

However, it definitely shouldn’t be all a sports agent is interested in.

Not all endorsements are created equal. How much money is involved is only part of the equation that needs to be considered when you’re trying to guide your athlete toward the right products, companies, and services to build him or her a bigger paycheck and brand.

Guide Your Athlete to the Right Endorsement

From weighing values to remembering to thinking locally, here are five ways a sports agent can more effectively guide an athlete toward the right endorsements.

1. Be Values-Centered

Not every athlete has the same worldview. Some are passionate about travel or animals. Some love the finer things in life; be it food, drink, or luxury living. Others have simpler tastes and would prefer eating hot dogs to eating foie gras. The athletes in your charge have values specific to them, and a good sports agent will help them find the endorsements that most accurately reflect those values.

Continually being outfitted in the hottest new sports apparel may appeal to one of your athletes, while the newest gadgets in tech might appeal to another. Get to know your athletes well enough to seek out endorsements that are in line with who they really are, and you’ll have happier athletes and happier sponsors.

2. Think of the Future

Not all athletes will enjoy a lengthy and injury-free career. Golfers can play for decades, while professional football players rarely go beyond 10 years. Because of the disparity in how long an athlete will be able to stay in the spotlight, it’s important to consider the future both in terms of gaining endorsements that could conceivably continue after retirement and in terms of endorsements that will pay a hefty sum during the athletes’ active years.

3. Think Local

Yes, it’s always a good idea to at least try to go after the biggest endorsements you can (provided they aren’t at odds with your clients’ values). Pepsi, Coke, Nike, Adidas, Under Armour — the biggest corporations tend to mean the biggest payouts. But don’t skip out on smaller and more local opportunities in your haste to win the largest and most lucrative prize.

Whether there’s a luxury car dealership in the city where your athlete went to college that could provide a sizable check or a mom and pop franchise they happened to love in their hometown, building a complex portfolio that has a local and personal element can actually aid in building your clients’ brands.

4. Don’t Be Passive

It’s pretty common for a sports agent to start representing athletes when they’re barely into their 20’s. While many young athletes know they need guidance in maneuvering the world of money and sports, some athletes — or their parents — have ideas that may prove detrimental to their careers.

Don’t be passive when faced with an athlete who’s certain that an endorsement from Hooters is all he’s every cared about. Give advice respectfully, but in a no-holds-barred manner. If there comes a time when you and a client can’t see eye-to-eye anymore, don’t be shy about that either. In every way you can, be assertive and truthful. The sports agent-athlete relationship is one that needs a healthy amount of honesty in order for both parties to be best served.

5. Be Realistic

Very few of the athletes you represent will ever reach the level of legacy that Michael Jordan or Mia Hamm have reached, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get great endorsements and earn a decent amount of money. Yes, you need to be realistic about what your clients can accomplish, but you need to work hard to avoid aiming too low, too.

As much as you can, be realistic about their talent, personal charisma, character, and other features that affect endorsement opportunities and payouts. This realism is central to your success and theirs, because, without it you and the athletes you serve may be underperforming.

A great sports agent isn’t just someone who works with great athletes. A great sports agent also helps his athletes find the right endorsements in order to best benefit their careers and financial situations, presently and well into the future.

Sports NetworkerRead more http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/12/17/5-ways-agent-can-guide-athlete-right-endorsement/]]>http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/12/17/5-ways-agent-can-guide-athlete-right-endorsement/feed/7Small Business Ideas to Compete Against the Big Dogshttp://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/07/30/small-business-ideas-to-compete-against-the-big-dogs/
http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/07/30/small-business-ideas-to-compete-against-the-big-dogs/#commentsThu, 30 Jul 2015 21:00:54 +0000http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=19224When it comes to sports gear, you would be justified in thinking there are only a few brands where you can shop. The truth is there are hundreds, if not thousands of smaller sports gear companies out there. Moreover, many of them use small business ideas to directly compete with the larger brands and succeed! Competing against...

]]>When it comes to sports gear, you would be justified in thinking there are only a few brands where you can shop. The truth is there are hundreds, if not thousands of smaller sports gear companies out there. Moreover, many of them use small business ideas to directly compete with the larger brands and succeed!

Competing against the big dogs is possible. Moreover at Sports Networker, we will always support promising entrepreneurs whenever we get the opportunity.

SN Small Business Ideas for Success

If you want to make some money selling sports gear and eat some of the larger brand’s lunch, here are our small business ideas for success.

Online Branding

Everybody, and we mean everybody, goes online when they start to look for new gear and equipment. To ensure that people keep coming back to you, you need first to ensure that your website is not only captivating, but easy to find and navigate as well. A cheap looking and slow website will ensure people will not stay – and worse – not purchase anything from you.

The web is a place where smaller companies can actually get the upper hand over the big dogs. Emphasizing features like customizability, range of selection, ease of use, and of course customer service are often times what make consumers trust and value smaller companies over larger ones. The two most important online features that all small business ideas should incorporate is usability and customer service.

Yes, Sport Networker readers, you can compete against larger sports gear companies. Look at DoItTennis, for example. You can find anything from a racquet to apparel to a tennis bag online in their one-stop-shop for top quality tennis gear. DoItTennis offers an immensely wide variety of top tennis brands from Wilson to Prince to 40 Love Courture. Furthermore, their intuitive website provides users with the resources and guidance needed to easily choose tennis equipment for players of all types and skill levels. In this way, DoItTennis helps customers feel that they are making an informed and responsible purchase decision, which is key in building positive consumer-brand relationships.

A beautifully designed site like Soccerloco will draw customers in, but what keeps them coming back is the ease with which users can navigate, search, and customize their site experience. In terms of customer service, direct is best. A great way to enhance business-to-consumer relations is a live chat customer assistance feature like the one found at Softball Rampage. For a successful website, small businesses must prioritize usability and customer service both before and after customer purchases.
A website is one just one tool for creating an online brand. You need to use SEO and social media as well. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) will help get people find your brand online, and social media savvy will keep them engaged and more likely to purchase your gear and equipment. You need a plan, and we can help. Take a look at our Sports Marketing 101 resource for more.

Get out There

Even the largest brands started small. Every one of the most popular brands grew because they believed in their products, hit a ton of in-person events, and used these events to further market their brand. Associating your business with popular brands, and carrying the products of those brands, is essential for gaining popularity for your own brand.
To further get your business out there, take a page from the big sporting goods stores out there. Take advantage of the number of positives provided by event marketing:

Learn about your potential customer base – know who they are and what they want so you can tailor your product to their needs and wants.

Associate your business with popular, quality brands.

Gather contact information for marketing purposes

Meet other entrepreneurs for networking and potential partnerships.

Of course, if your product line hits the ground running and you keep attending events to showcase your gear—even in the face of larger sporting companies—sales will soon catch up to production.

Work as Hard as your Athletes

Many businesses fail where they should succeed because people take their foot off the gas pedal. After a few sales, you absolutely cannot rest on your laurels. Even sports superstars need to keep practicing, and like them you need to continuously refine your product line and your sales approach. Failure to adapt will lead to failure in business.

Never Stop Learning

You need to adapt when necessary to succeed when selling sports gear. How do you know when to adapt? If you are not open to continuously learning about how your business or your competitors operate you will very likely miss the boat. We recently did an interview with one of our community contributors, Mike Rudd, who has a number of great ideas in his book, Hot Dogs, A Little Marketing and A Lot of Fun.

You need to be willing to work, learn, and have a plan of action. Let go of your fear, believe in yourself, and work hard for your customers. Work diligently on your brand, get yourself and your product in front of your potential customers, and never let up. You can, and will, succeed if you are willing to put in the work.

Sports NetworkerRead more http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/07/30/small-business-ideas-to-compete-against-the-big-dogs/]]>http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/07/30/small-business-ideas-to-compete-against-the-big-dogs/feed/3Why NFL Teams’ Business is Our Businesshttp://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/06/09/why-nfl-teams-business-is-our-business/
http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/06/09/why-nfl-teams-business-is-our-business/#commentsTue, 09 Jun 2015 16:45:20 +0000http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=19161Are you ready for some football? Well maybe not yet, but attending NFL games and rooting for your local or favorite NFL teams occupies most of the fall. Fans across the country gather on Sundays to watch and hope their team is victorious. Football is a way of life for many major cities and smaller communities....

]]>Are you ready for some football? Well maybe not yet, but attending NFL games and rooting for your local or favorite NFL teams occupies most of the fall. Fans across the country gather on Sundays to watch and hope their team is victorious. Football is a way of life for many major cities and smaller communities. The NFL, obviously, provides entertainment for millions each week during the season.

However, what some fans may not realize is that the NFL teams, owners and executives are also part of an extremely lucrative business.

NFL Teams’ Business

A game comprised of one ball, one field, and two teams is capable of attracting not only millions of fans but billions of dollars in revenue. In fact, a game that seems relatively simple and fun to play has become one of the largest businesses in the world. Ranking first in sports entertainment, the NFL is a powerful superstar in the world of economics as well. The average net worth of the 32 teams in the NFL is approximately $1.4 billion, which equates to almost $45 billion as a sports franchise.

Team owners have literally struck gold by being a top dog in the NFL. These individuals have seen their personal worth go from millions to billions in just a few years. It is no wonder that the NFL is taking the economy by storm. The biggest question that remains, however, is how the NFL has become so financially successful.

The Fans

The average “Joe” who loves football is a partial contributor to the wealth of the NFL. The price of admission to a professional football game in 2014 averaged $84 a ticket. While this seems like chump change to the NFL, the fans who fork over their hard-earned money to attend these games for entertainment value are making the rich even richer. Add in the money spent on merchandise, parking, and concessions at a game, the NFL’s pockets continue to exponentially grow while the fans’ pockets are virtually emptied.

As you can see, NFL teams continue to cash in more and more with increased ticket prices over the years. (Source: http://www.statista.com/)

Watching on Television

While many devout fans attend the games in person, another huge population of the world relies on TV to broadcast their favorite team’s weekly game. In fact, the NFL is the most popular sport to watch on TV. The media is partially responsible for supporting the NFL’s ever-increase in the teams’ monetary value. The NFL’s broadcasting deals with major television companies will increase to over $200 million in the next several years.

Additionally, those subscribers of satellite television are guaranteed to watch their favorite team through the deal reached with companies. Recognizing the extremely high demand to watch football, packages such as the NFL Sunday Ticket offers are appealing to mass audiences everywhere. This partnership, of course, brings in additional revenue for both the NFL and its participating satellite companies.

Taxes and Tax Breaks

The fans that regularly support the NFL through attending games or watching them on TV pay all sorts of tax. The ticket a fan buys to watch a game contains an added tax, and a home entertainment subscriber pays a tax on his monthly bill. While all NFL teams are taxed on its sales, including tickets and merchandise, the NFL itself is a tax-exempt organization. Grandfathered in as a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization, the NFL is receiving millions of Americans’ dollars that are non-taxed. Considered a 501(c) 6, it falls under the category of a business league.

Therefore, even though its commissioner is paid $30 million a year, the NFL is free from paying taxes.

The NFL is a big business that brings in big bucks. Professional football, while highly entertaining to watch both live and in the comforts of a fan’s home, cashes in on virtually every aspect of the basic game. The American public, unfortunately are footing the bill.

Sports NetworkerRead more http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/06/09/why-nfl-teams-business-is-our-business/]]>http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/06/09/why-nfl-teams-business-is-our-business/feed/5Sports Memorabilia Authentication Strategieshttp://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/05/19/sports-memorabilia-authentication-strategies/
http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/05/19/sports-memorabilia-authentication-strategies/#commentsTue, 19 May 2015 16:15:39 +0000http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=19139Sellers of phony baloney sports memorabilia are tainting the billion-dollar-a-year sports industry. Scammers prey on individuals who love sports and are willing to lay down cash for purchases that reflect their fanaticism; their commitment to a team or favorite player. Fearing that a rare, autographed item at the “right” price will get away, a frenzied...

]]>Sellers of phony baloney sports memorabilia are tainting the billion-dollar-a-year sports industry. Scammers prey on individuals who love sports and are willing to lay down cash for purchases that reflect their fanaticism; their commitment to a team or favorite player.

Fearing that a rare, autographed item at the “right” price will get away, a frenzied fan often exits an auction with what he believes to be a little piece of history. However, instead of being signed by his favorite sports figure, what he has actually purchased is a replica of the real thing. Without proper authentication, an autograph is basically only worth the material on which it was signed. Fans should not allow their enthusiasm for the game to overshadow their ability to think straight.

Uncontrollable buying impulses feed right into the unscrupulous practices of dishonest vendors. It is difficult for the average fan to determine the difference between authentic and corrupt vendors and the paraphernalia they sell. But it is possible.

In a 2010 Forbes.com article entitled, “The Fragility of the Sports Memorabilia Industry,” writer Wayne G. McDonnell Jr. called Steiner Sports “one of the safest programs in the sports memorabilia industry.” [1] Steiner Sports leads the way in sports memorabilia marketing and authentication and is the top producer of authentic, hand-signed collectibles.

What this means to collectors is that the Steiner line of memorabilia is guaranteed to be authentic. The company’s motto (“the Steiner seal makes it real”) is key for sports enthusiasts and collectors.

Tips for Finding Real Sports Memorabilia

Accumulating sports memorabilia is an expensive hobby- so expensive that collectors should take great precaution to protect their investment. The following suggestions will help you to avoid memorabilia counterfeiters:

Educate yourself on the signing habits of your favorite athletes. Some athletes will only sign autographs at organized events. Former New York Yankee Derek Jeter; famed football coach Lou Holtz; and Hockey’s Henrik Lundqvist are a few of Steiner Sports exclusive athletes. If you purchase an autographed ball from a vendor who indicates that he personally secured the signature, aside from an organized event, then you should assume the signature is a fake.

Avoid impulse purchases. An effective way to keep from buying sports memorabilia on impulse is to place a limit on how much you will spend. Buying a piece on impulse increases the chances of purchasing a “must have“ item that hasn’t been authenticated.

Don’t be conned into purchasing sports memorabilia that is being sold at a discounted price well below the marketed value. If Michael Jordan’s jersey is being sold for less than you ever imagined possible, then you are probably in the presence of a con man. It is too good to be true, so skip it.

Purchase memorabilia from authorized dealers (like Steiner Sports) who stand behind their products and provide an authenticity guarantee. Major League Baseball and the National Football League have very strict authentication guidelines. Purchasing from either is a safe bet.

Attend events where athletes make personal appearances. Obviously if you are present when your sports memorabilia is signed, then you are assured of its authenticity.

Do not purchase sports memorabilia from vendors that refuse to reveal information about their company. Assume that the lack of evidence reveals deception. A company refusing to provide background information; such as telephone, mailing address, and email address; might be hiding something.

It may seem contradictory, but in rare cases, an authenticity guarantee is not enough proof that your memorabilia is real. Be particularly careful in the instance of second party dealers. The certificate of authenticity should bear the signature of both dealers. If the original dealer signs the certificate and the second dealer cannot authenticate, then contact the first dealer before agreeing to purchase the memorabilia.

Determine if dealers use witnesses to authenticate memorabilia. A witness to the process and the athlete that signed the product are both proof of authentication.

Purchase from dealers who offer a signed affidavit as proof of authentication. The affidavit will include the signature of the athlete as well as that of a company representative. The document should include a definition of the item that was signed by the athlete and the date and time that the item was signed. Additionally, the affidavit should be notarized.

Study the market. Athletes may sign particular items over others. For instance, your favorite baseball player may primarily sign baseballs rather than jerseys or caps. Knowing this will help you to avoid purchasing forgeries. Also, keep in mind that back in the old days, sporting goods companies manufactured equipment that bore a copy of an athlete’s signature. It wasn’t intended as an authenticated item. Beware of crooked dealers who pass them off as autographed sports memorabilia.

Do Your Due Diligence and Don’t Get Conned

Sources in a 2000 Federal Bureau of Investigation sting reported that the majority of vintage memorabilia is made up of forgeries.[2] In the 15 years since, progress has been made in cleaning up the industry. However, forgeries are still out there, as proven by a sting where millions of dollars in fake memorabilia was seized prior to the 2015 Super Bowl.[3]

Collectors should also defend the industry by reporting unscrupulous dealers. In the end, collectors should just be proactive in protecting themselves against the illegal practices of crooked dealers who are bilking consumers.

Sports NetworkerRead more http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/05/19/sports-memorabilia-authentication-strategies/]]>http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/05/19/sports-memorabilia-authentication-strategies/feed/4RosterBot Solves Your Rec League Management Issueshttp://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/03/31/rosterbot-solves-your-rec-league-management-issues/
http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/03/31/rosterbot-solves-your-rec-league-management-issues/#commentsTue, 31 Mar 2015 16:21:38 +0000http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=19076When you think about it there are millions of people who each make sports great in their own way. Fans make up most of that population, but there are also players, trainers, reporters and announcers. Then there are the men and women who make up the foundation of our favorite franchises – coaches and management....

]]>When you think about it there are millions of people who each make sports great in their own way. Fans make up most of that population, but there are also players, trainers, reporters and announcers. Then there are the men and women who make up the foundation of our favorite franchises – coaches and management. These people work tirelessly to build the best franchise they possibly can, don’t get enough credit when they’re successful and get too much blame when they’re unsuccessful.

While it’s certainly on a much smaller scale, coaching and managing a local rec team is just as important and can be just as much of a burden.

Until now. Startup company RosterBot, created by a passionate rec hockey player and a Stanley Cup Champion, provides the tools to make the organization, monetization, and conversation around team and community events more efficient and pleasurable for people of all ages.

What is RosterBot?

RosterBot’s unique attribute is its automation. There are some other schedulers out there that still ask a lot of the Coach in preparing for every event. RosterBot’s goal is to let coaches actually coach and largely remove the day-to-day management from manager’s duties. They talk a bit about how they do this right here.

As that Stanley Cup Champion founder Bret Hedican puts it, “We’re focused on not just being a better communications tool. We’re focused on actually automating team management. Coaches can coach and players and can play better when they’re not wasting time coordinating activities.”

If you set RosterBot appropriately, and if your players fully buy into the RosterBot methodology, then you literally don’t need to do anything except get each event organized. That’s the goal; and this company is further along than anyone else in the industry.

Why RosterBot?

Here you can see just how easy the RosterBot interface is to use

RosterBot has become so attractive to hockey players as users, as investors, and as employees because hockey is very sensitive to structural weakness within the teams. It’s sensitive to missing players, and it requires obscure specialists like goalies. And players at every level are generally serious about competing. RosterBot helps them be more competitive in material ways. Additionally, what works for hockey trickles down to all kinds of other things: lacrosse, soccer, baseball, softball, even World of Warcraft. The popularity among hockey leagues will always keep them ahead of the curve as other sports and activities are drawn to RosterBot. And that popularity is just getting started:

More than half of the hundreds of teams at our local hockey megaplex (8 rinks!!) use RosterBot. We play against those teams often. You can literally tell the difference between a RosterBot team and a non-RosterBot team. With the RB teams, the bench is always full, the team’s never missing a goaltender, and they are quite organized and cohesive. In the old days teams would be scurrying from locker room to locker room asking guys if they wanted to play an extra game (because they were short players), or they’d be locked out of their rooms by the league for non-payment. This happens a lot less often now, and that benefits both teams. Nobody likes to drive to the rink and spend 20 minutes strapping on gear, only to discover that there’s not going to actually be a game. – RosterBot Founder Ian Andrew Bell

If you’re reading this there’s a good chance you’re either a member of a rec league team or a coach of one. RosterBot is the key to becoming your team’s solid foundation that will build a culture of organization, winning and, most importantly, fun. Check it out today.

Sports NetworkerRead more http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/03/31/rosterbot-solves-your-rec-league-management-issues/]]>http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/03/31/rosterbot-solves-your-rec-league-management-issues/feed/1From Athlete to Entrepreneur: 7 Tipshttp://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/03/18/from-athlete-to-entrepreneur-7-tips/
http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/03/18/from-athlete-to-entrepreneur-7-tips/#respondWed, 18 Mar 2015 14:47:11 +0000http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=19065Starting a business is never an easy task. It takes a lot of intense planning, execution of your strategy and little bit of luck to create the kind of business that you can build your life around. We know that businesses fail at an exceedingly high mark, reported at anywhere from 50-90%. Due to this...

]]>Starting a business is never an easy task. It takes a lot of intense planning, execution of your strategy and little bit of luck to create the kind of business that you can build your life around.

We know that businesses fail at an exceedingly high mark, reported at anywhere from 50-90%. Due to this high failure rate, every aspiring entrepreneur should be seeking out whatever potential advantages they can find. Fortunately, I’ve found a few natural benefits of being a former athlete that can help you carry over your talents into the business world. The number of people we’ve seen turn from athlete to entrepreneur – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson to George Foreman to an amazing number of former college athletes such as Lewis Howes – shows that we are more than just our elite physical talents. There are other factors at work in creating our success. And these skills are transferrable from the sports arena to your own successful business venture.

From Athlete to Entrepreneur: 7 Tips

I’ve created a list of 7 factors that give athletes an advantage when creating your own businesses.

Passion

As I’ve been researching athletes getting into entrepreneurship, one of the most common themes I’ve found with former athletes is huge hole leaving the game leaves in their lives. One such athlete even said that retiring from his playing days was comparable to getting a divorce. All throughout our lives, our playing careers were such a huge part of our lives; they affected our education, our everyday life and our social lives. The game really filled a significant portion of our life. When it’s gone we struggle to find something else to fill it.

It took me a while to find entrepreneurship to fill that hole. I tried law school, thinking that a new challenge would fill the void, but it really was not what I was looking for. It was easy to see when my other classmates had that passion for the law the way I used to about baseball. They were ready to be at the top of the class and be an attorney at the biggest and baddest firms in the northeast. I found law school to be an interesting intellectual stimulation but nothing more. I figured since I had spent a fortune to try and become an attorney I might as well see it though, but I quickly found that life was not for me.

Some of my other teammates have found their passion in other ways. My best friend, and former shortstop of our college baseball team, now lifts 2-3 hours per day and is an aspiring fitness competition competitor/body builder, he told me that there are days he could stay at the gym from open to close and just work out all day. That’s the kind of passion that we look to have, and when we find it, we excel. And because ex-athletes are hungry to find that next passion, when we do find it we do everything possible to hold onto it.

Which brings me to #2.

Work Ethic

Let’s face it, athletes need to have an insane work ethic. They were either practicing and working out daily to compete against world class performers in sports or trying to balance athletic pursuits with academic studies and social life. Just trying to survive either gauntlet of tasks left me getting pushed to my absolute limits.

My last 2 years of eligibility I started taking courses towards my MBA and began studying for the LSAT while still being a varsity athlete and attempting to maintain some semblance of a social life. It left me absolutely exhausted, but at the same time it challenged me in a way that I had never been challenged before. This schedule was also a great way to understand what it was going to take to succeed in business. I’m sure many other athletes can relate to my story as well. The missed classes that you need to learn on the fly, the hours of time spent on buses and airplanes traveling to and from games – it’s an absolute grind. So instead, you’re up until 3am writing papers and pulling all-nighters studying for exams, only to crash for a few hours before you have to get up for practice that day!

This is not much different from when you are starting out on your own new venture (especially if you are going to be grinding it part time while keeping your job; something I HIGHLY recommend at the very beginning). You will be working for hours each day, sometimes late into the night because you will find yourself really in the zone and won’t want to lose the wave of momentum that you are riding. And this is after a long day at your job, plus finding time to work out, eat meals, hang out with your friends and get in some semblance of a full night of sleep. Fortunately your experiences in your career have prepared you to work harder than the average person and reach success that much quicker.

Personal Development

I know what you’re thinking…personal development? I don’t read any of those types of books or go to those “woo woo” retreats. But the reality is your career was always about personal development.

You went to practice right? You spent time there honing your craft there. Did you ever do extra work? My best friend and I would take extra batting practice before and after every practice. We had to get our extra reps in to get our swing just right. I’d hit him extra ground balls at shortstop and he’d throw me short hops at first base to practice my picks. Additionally, think of all the film study that is done in review of previous performances. I know we used to tape our swings so we could break them down and find flaws as well.

In business obviously things will be different. You are not working on your body, but you should be working on your skills. The reality is you are just playing a different game. In this world your skills will be writing, editing, public speaking, networking and copywriting. Additionally you will need to continue growing your mind, investing in books and courses to continue learning and growing your skills. I personally spend thousands of dollars each year on different books and courses to continue to grow my business, my mind and my income. It’s no different than the new equipment, private coaching or sports camps you used to go to as a kid. No matter what field you are in, you should always be investing in yourself to improve your game.

Short Memory & Fearlessness

If you are a football player or even a fan of football you’ve probably heard announcers say quite often that both cornerbacks and quarterbacks need to have short memories.

Make a bad pass? Forget about it, move on.

Let a guy make a catch? Forget about it, move on.

We know as athletes we all had to deal with some sort of failure, forget it and move on because there were more plays to be made. I had to deal with this a lot in baseball (a sport where by its very nature you fail more than you succeed). I would make an out, be unhappy briefly and then have to get back in the game for the next at bat. Those times when I couldn’t do that, I’d let one bad at bat get me out twice, something that hurt both me and the team. But one thing I learned in sports is that no matter how hard I try, I will fail sometimes. All athletes learn how to deal with the failure and just keep going. Because there was always more game left to be played, with more chances to succeed.

When you are starting your own business you will face road blocks. You will try things that won’t work. You will fail, but that is ok. It just means you get to learn something and keep going. And unlike our time on the field/court/ice, time in business doesn’t run out when the clock hits zero. You can keep learning and tweaking and growing until you have a viable, profitable business. You can use that short memory to block out a pity party the average person would throw after a set back and treat it like you would any kind of step back in your sport. Give yourself some time to deal with it, learn what to change for next time, and move on to your next task to keep momentum going.

Fearlessness & Grit

I want you to think back to your playing days, were you ever afraid on the field? Probably not. For me personally, standing at the plate with that bat in my hand was one of the few places in life that I felt powerful. I knew that I was in control of my success or failure. I loved being able to compete and letting my best face the pitcher’s best.

You probably have a similar experience from your sport. The point is you were not afraid to just give it your all and let the results happen. Part of this is because you know you prepared to get yourself the most ready you possibly could. And no matter what, you gave it your absolute all. You saw the obstacles and failures as new challenges and just put your head down and kept attacking them. Failure and giving up were never an option. You were determined to find a way to get past any challenge in your way.

In business you need to maintain that same level of fearlessness and grit. You are going to need to do things that will not be comfortable for you. It is similar to how people do not understand your desire to be “risky” and work for yourself rather than have a “safe” job that brings with it almost zero fear. They ask (fearfully), “what if you fail?” You are more likely to ask them back, “what if I succeed? What if I make it?” And you are going to be willing to get after it, and know that as long as you keep battling and trying to get better each day eventually you will succeed.

Keep Score

I know this one might seem odd, but have you ever seen the movie “For the Love of the Game?” When Kelly Preston’s character is surprised to find out that Kevin Costner’s character knows the exact amount of wins and losses in his career and asks if he counts them, he calmly responds “We count everything.” And we know that in sports we do count everything – goals, assists, home runs, RBIs, points, rebounds – everything.

This will serve you well in your business as you will need to test everything. You will need to test your marketing to determine the most effective ad copy and giveaways. You will want to test different landing pages for your opt-in rates. You will want to test different product pages for sales conversions. You will want to get test numbers of your products from beta testers before you actually put the product on the market. All of these will give you statistics that you can use to analyze your business and see what you need to change, or do more of, to improve your bottom line.

Coachability

You have been learning from coaches your whole life, even before you started playing sports. You probably first learned how to play sports from a parent, neighbor or other family member. For me, it was my first Christmas. I was 6 months old and my first gift from my dad was a foam ball and bat. He was my first coach as he taught me how to hit. He was also my coach for years later in little league, junior league and American Legion. As I got older I went to other camps and had other coaches, but I was always able to learn and take something from those coaches. Each of those little bits made me the player I became, the one who could play in college and start in the NCAA tournament. Your story probably has some similarities to that. Many coaches who were a part of your story, who taught you things that made you better and helped you reach your goals.

When starting a business, one of the best things you can have is a coach or a mentor. That person who knows more than you about business, marketing and sales. Just like with your sport, you will probably end up with multiple coaches throughout your business – some will be better than others (just like your other coaches in your career). Usually the higher up you go the better your coaches will be, as you will be able to talk with him or her about business on a higher level. It’s no different than what your high school coach and your college coach could do for you. It’s simply both of you being at a higher level than with your previous coach. The most important thing about coaches is to take what you learn from them, apply it to get you to the next level in your business and do it over and over again. Yes, some of those coaches will probably be paid, some will be natural mentors, but each one can get you at least one step closer to your ultimate goal. So do what you’ve done for years and listen to your coaches.

Now Go Shift From Athlete to Entrepreneur!

As you can see, your background has already put you in position to transition from athlete to entrepreneur successfully. By simply recycling your energy towards a new venture you can live the life of your dreams. You can travel, spend time with the family, go to the Super Bowl, but most importantly fill that void that we all felt when we finally hung up our jersey for the last time.

For me it was especially painful because I blew out my knee my senior year and never got to play in a game that season. But like you I understood the void that I had in my life, and how I needed to find something else to fill it. You and I have both chosen the path of entrepreneurship to fill it, and I am excited to see what your story looks like down the road.

Sports NetworkerRead more http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/03/18/from-athlete-to-entrepreneur-7-tips/]]>http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/03/18/from-athlete-to-entrepreneur-7-tips/feed/0The Economic Boom in Golf Stores and Courseshttp://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/02/06/economic-boom-in-golf-stores-and-courses/
http://www.sportsnetworker.com/2015/02/06/economic-boom-in-golf-stores-and-courses/#commentsFri, 06 Feb 2015 18:30:48 +0000http://www.sportsnetworker.com/?p=19005If you talk to a few people and ask them what golf means to them you will get lots of varying opinions. For some it is a rich man’s hobby and for others it is just another boring sport. One thing you may never hear is that it is a huge money spinner. In this...

]]>If you talk to a few people and ask them what golf means to them you will get lots of varying opinions. For some it is a rich man’s hobby and for others it is just another boring sport.

One thing you may never hear is that it is a huge money spinner. In this piece, we spoke with Golf and Finance expert David Rycott to get a good overview of the economy of golf stores and courses from a studier of the sport. We also take a look at the latest figures from SRI international on the economic impact of golf, using the United States as a case study.

The report shows that there were 26 million golfers in the USA in 2011 and they collectively pulled in $69 billion in revenue for the country during that year. The 2011 figure was down from the 2005 research ($79 billion), but it still managed to out-perform revenue from a collection of other professional sports such as hockey, football, basketball and baseball. The revenue from golf rose to $177 billion when the ripple effect of golf on tourism was taking into account. This is enough to convince anyone about the economic impact of golf.

Golf Courses

The National Golf Foundation says there are 16,000 private and public golf courses in the US. Each of the courses cost developers large sums to varying degrees. The Trump National Golf Club is the most expensive among the lot in terms of construction. It cost Trump International $264m.

As of 2011, there were more than 75 construction projects going on, and combined they were contributing $515.8 million to the US economy and another $1.6 billion in investments into already existing courses.

The Flourish of Golf Stores

Golf and Finance Expert David Rycott spoke with us about the real upswing in profits and revenue that golf stores can bring to the economy. He said, “the average golfer or enthusiast spends a lot of money on golf merchandise. In the year under review, golf supplies brought in a massive $2.1 billion for the US economy”.

It was also pointed out that about $1.6 billion of this amount went to golf apparels with brands like Greg Norman Collection and Tuttle Golf making the most sales. Golf bags were also popular as people spent between $30 and $10,000 for their golf bags.

Golf clubs and balls

Golf clubs and balls brought in a $3.5 billion in revenue for the US in 2011, with the most popular clubs and balls being the Callaway golf clubs (especially the Callaway X Hot 3Deep Fairway Wood) and the Callaway Hex Chrome balls. The Five Stars club pack from Honma (Japanese manufacturer) was also popular with golfers. They sold for $32,000; this is a luxury 14-set golf club made from platinum and gold!

The Future of Golf Stores and Courses

With these figures, it is certain that golf goes beyond being a pastime. The figures cover the U.S but it shows how big the golfing industry is globally. Most of the chief golf stores and destinations around the world will have positive financial figures on the golfing industry even though they will be far lower than the US figures. It’s clear the golf industry isn’t going away anytime soon.